Electric fluid heating device



Jan. 17, 1967 J. E. MEEK ELECTRIC FLUID HEATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10, 1964 K n M E n h 0 J INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,299,252 ELECTRIC FLUID HEATING DEVICE John E. Meek, Belleville, Ill. (RR. 2, Box 27, Valparaiso, Ind. 46383) Filed Aug. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 388,569 9 Claims. (Cl. 219293) This invention relates to a new and useful electrical heating apparatus for continuously flowing liquids and more particularly to an electric heating device for water in an electrically conductive condition.

The present invention is concerned with the heating of liquids in a continuously flowing condition wherein there is a problem involving the loss of electrical energy through leakage current in the flowing liquid. It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an electric heater which successfully copes with the aforementioned problem. Leakage current is therefore held to a significantly low value by the electric heater device of the present invention. Not only is the conversion of electrical energy into heat energy of the liquid made more eflicient because of the reduced current leakage, but use of the electric heater of the present invention is rendered significantly safer because the danger of high grounding currents conducted through the liquid is avoided.

In accordance with the foregoing object, the electric heater device of the present invention features a two-section, non-conductive liner held assembled within a rigid metallic casing so as to form an insulated liquid flow chamber communicating with the inlet and outlet ports extending through the casing. The liner is provided with facilities whereby a pair of electrodes are firmly positioned in spaced relation to each other forming a restricted flow passage for the liquid across which current is conducted for heating the liquid. The electrodes are spaced from the inlet and outlet ports by partition elements formed on the liner sections for the purpose of barring the flow of leakage current by presenting a path of high resistance to any possible leakage current conducted through the liquid. When properly assembled, the partition elements on the liner sections form circuitous connecting passages through which the liquid may flow to and from the restricted electrode passage. The circuitous connecting passages therefore communicate with chamber spaces enclosed by the liner sections on opposite sides of the electrodes, said chamber spaces also communicating with the inlet and outlet ports for conducting the flow of liquid through the casing.

By virtue of the foregoing arrangement of the electric heater of the present invention, and the selection of materials in concert therewith, significantly improved results have been obtained as hereinbefore indicated. Also, the construction and assemblage of the parts of the electric heater has been facilitated. The electric heater device of the present invention therefore represents a substantial improvement in heater efficiency, safety and reliability as well as in manufacturing economy.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the electric heating apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the electric heater with the top portion thereof removed;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through the electric heater taken substantially through a plane indicated by the section line 3-3 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by the section line 4-4 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by the section line 55 in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the heater device generally denoted by reference numeral 10 includes an outer, rigid, metallic casing generally referred to by reference numeral 12. The casing includes a body portion 14 having a bottom wall 16 interconnected with end walls 18 and 20 and side walls 22 and 24. As more clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the end wall 18 is formed with an inlet port 26 into which fluid is introduced from conduit 28. Fluid outflow from the casing is conducted through the outlet port 30 formed in the end wall 20, said fluid outflow being conducted through conduit 32. Mounted on the side wall 22 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, is a projecting portion 34 mounting fittings through which electrical connections are established with a pair of carbon electrode plates 36 and 38 housed within the casing section 14. The casing section 14 is therefore provided with a peripheral flange 40 to which a cover section 42 of the housing is secured by means of a plurality of fastener assemblies 44.

Enclosed in assembled relation within the casing, is a two-section liner comprising a body liner section 46 and a closure liner section 48. Both liner sections are made of a non-conductive material such as a mineral filled, natural phenolic plastic. The body liner section 46 is formed with a peripheral wall portion 50 which lines the end and side walls 18, 20, 22 and 24 of the casing while the bottom wall portion 52 of the liner section 46 lines the bottom wall 16 of the casing in spaced relation to the liner section 48. The liner sections when assembled within the casing are spaced from each other by means of a resilient sealing member in the form of a neoprene gasket 54. A liquid conducting chamber is thereby enclosed within the liner so as to conduct a continuous flow of liquid between the conduits 28 and 32. The wall portion 50 of the liner section 46 is therefore provided with openings 56 and 58 respectively registering with the inlet and outlet ports 26 and 30. The liner also positions therewithin the carbon electrode plates 36 and 38 aforementioned, these plates being spaced by any suitable nonconductive spacers 60 as will be more clearly seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. The electrode plate 36 is sup ported on the bottom wall 52 of the liner section 46 by a copper plate 62 while a copper plate 64 covers the upper surface of the electrode plate 38.

A neoprene filler 56 spaces the upper plate 64 from the resilient gasket 54 so as to firmly hold the carbon electrode plates in assembled spaced relation to each other forming a restricted electrode passage 68 therebetween.

Partition means are formed on the liner sections so as to define end chamber spaces 70 and 72 on opposite [longitudinal sides of the carbon electrode plates, said end chambers being respectively in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports. The partition means also forms circuitous connecting passages 74 between the end chambers and the restricted electrode passage 68 whereby a high resistance path to leakage current flow is established. Toward this latter end, the partition means are formed by projecting portions 76 and 78, respectively formed on the liner sections and extending toward each other as shown in FIGURE 3. The projecting portions 76 formed on the liner section 46, in spaced relation to the inlet and outlet ports, also form positioning shoulders 80 which abut the longitudinal ends of the lower electrode plate 36 for positioning thereof. Each of the projecting portions 76 also forms a wall surface 82 which terminate substantially midway between the lower and upper surfaces of the upper electrode plate 38 and thereby forms with the projection 78, one end of the circuituous connecting passage 74 adjacent to the sealing gasket 54. The sealing gasket is therefore formed with openings 84 through which the projecting portions 78 on the liner section 48 project into the chamber enclosed by the liner. The projecting portions 78 extend in spaced relation to the projecting portions 76 on the inside thereof terminating substantially midway between the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode plate 36. The end of the circuitous connecting passage 74 formed between the projecting portions 76 and 78 terminates at an end which bridges the spacing between the electrode plates in order to establish fluid communication between the end chambers and the electrode passage 68. The projecting portions 78 also form abutting shoulders 84 between which the upper electrode plate 38 is positioned.

From the foregoing description the construction, operation and utility of the electric heating device will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated that liquid inflow passes from the end chamber 70 into the restricted electrode passage 68 only after passing through the circuitous connecting passage 74, the outflow of liquid from the restricted passage 68 again proceeding through a circuitous connecting passage into the end chamber 72 before it is conducted to the conduit 32. While passing through the restricted passage 68, the liquid is heated because of the flow of current between the electrodes maintained at equally opposite potentials for such purpose. Because of the efficient heat transfer arrangement provided by the material of the liner section which is both electrically and thermally non-conductive, and the significantly reduced leakage current fiow, electrical energy is converted into heat energy at worst at a 95% efficiency in connection with the heater of the present invention. The heater has also been tested in connection with the maximum amount of leakage current and it has been found that less than 500 milamperes of leakage current flow is obtained with only one electrode raised to a potential of up to 660 volts producing a current flow therethrough of 400 amperes. The foregoing test results therefore demonstrate the significantly reduced loss of electrical energy and safe operational attributes associated with the electric heater device of the present invention.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An apparatus for electrically heating liquids comprising a hollow casing having inlet and outlet ports, a non-conductive liner held assembled within said casing, said liner completely covering the casing interiorly and defining a fluid flow passageway between the inlet and outlet ports including chambers respectively communicating with said inlet and outlet ports and an electrode passage between the ohambers, spaced electrodes positioned in said electrode passage between said chambers, and spaced partition means connected to the liner between each of the chambers and the electrode passage having circuitous passages formed therein communicating with said chambers and the electrode passage.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said liner comprises a body section having openings therein in registry with the inlet and outlet ports, a closure section, and resilient spacing means separating the body and closure sections in assembled relation within the casing to seal said chambers and passages within the liner.

3. An apparatus for electrically heating liquids comprising a hollow casing having inlet and outlet ports, a

non-conductive liner held assembled within said casing, said liner completely covering the casing interiorly and defining a fluid flow passageway between the inlet and outlet ports including chambers respectively communicating with said inlet and outlet ports and an electrode passage between the chambers, spaced electrodes positioned in said electrode passage between said chambers, and spaced partition means connected to the liner between each of the chambers and the electrode passage having circuitous passages formed therein communicating with said chambers and the electrode passage, said liner comprising a body section having openings therein in registry with the inlet and outlet ports, a closure section, and resilient spacing means separating the body and closure sections in assembled relation within the casing to seal said chambers and passages within the liner, said partition means including projecting portions on the liner sections extending toward each other in closely spaced relation to form said circuitous passages, the projecting portions on the respective sections having shoulders abutting the respective electrodes for holding same in position, the projecting portions on the body section including wall surfaces spaced from the inlet and outlet ports to define said chambers, each of said wall surfaces terminating in close spaced relation to the resilient spacing means to form one end of the circuitous passage aligned with one of the electrodes, the other end of the circuitous passage bridging both of the electrodes for communication with the electrode passage therebetween.

4. An apparatus for electrically heating liquids comprising a hollow casing having inlet and outlet ports, a non-conductive liner held assembled within said casing, said liner completely covering the casing interiorly and defining a fluid flow passageway between the inlet and outlet ports including chambers respectively communicating with said inlet and outlet ports and an electrode passage between the chambers, spaced electrodes positioned in said electrode passage between said chambers, and spaced partition means connected to the liner be tween each of the chambers and the electrode passage having circuitous passages formed therein communicating with said chambers and the electrode passage, said partition means including projecting portions extending toward each other in closely spaced relation to form said circuitous passages, the projecting portions having shoulders abutting the respective electrodes for holding same in position and including wall surfaces spaced from the inlet and outlet ports to define said chambers, resilient means spacing said projecting portions, each of said wall surfaces terminating in close spaced relation to the resilient spacing means to form one end of the circuitous passage aligned with one of the electrodes, the other end of the circuitous passage bridging both of the electrodes for communication with the electrode passage therebetween. i

5. An apparatus for electrically heating a continuously flowing liquid comprising, a rigid, hollow casing having liner sections assembled therein completely covering interior surfaces thereof, inlet and outlet ports extending through said casing and one of said liner sections, sealing means spacing said liner sections to form a liquid flow chamber therebetween, partition means formed on said liner sections to divide the chamber into portions, said partition means having circuitous passages formed therein communicating with said chamber portions and a pair of electrode plates positioned by the partition means in spaced relation to each other within one of said chamber portions to form a restricted passage, said other chamber portions and passages forming a fluid flow passageway between said inlet and outlet ports.

6. An apparatus for electrically heating a continuously flowing liquid comprising, a rigid, hollow casing having liner sections assembled therein completely covering interior surfaces thereof, inlet and outlet ports extending thro gh. a d, ca ng and. one of said liner sections, sea1- ing means spacing said liner sections to form a liquid flow chamber therebetween, partition means formed on said liner sections to divide the chamber into portions, said partition means having circuitous passages formed therein communicating with said chamber portions and a pair of electrode plates positioned by the partition means in spaced relation to each other within one of said chamber portions to form a restricted passage, said other chamber portions and passages forming a fluid flow passageway between said inlet and outlet ports, said partition means including projecting portions on the liner sections extending toward each other in close spaced relation to form said circuitous passages, the projecting portions of the respective sections having shoulders abutting the respective electrode plates for holding same in position, the projecting portions on one of said sections including wall surfaces spaced from the inlet and outlet ports to define said other chamber portions, each of said wall surfaces terminating in close spaced relation to the sealing means to form one end of the circuitous passage aligned with one of the electrodes, the other end of the circuitous passage bridging both of the electrodes for communication with the restricted passage therebetween.

7. In an electric heater for fluids, a fluid-tight enclosure having non-conductive sections forming a flow chamber, partition means connected to said sections dividing the flow chamber into chamber spaces, a pair of electrodes abutting the partition means in spaced apart relation within one of the chamber spaces to form a restricted flow passage therethrough, said partition means including projections respectively extending from the enclosure sections in overlapping, spaced apart relation to each other bridging the electrodes, said projections forming a circuitous passage therebetween establishing fluid communication bet-ween the chamber spaces.

-8. The combination of claim 7 including sealing means between the enclosure sections sealing the flow chamber and spacing said projections to form the circuitous passage.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said sealing means comprises a resilient member through which one of the projections extends.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,355,687 8/1944 Van Hise 219 291 2,529,688 11/1950 Gr'upp 219-295 2,588,314 3/1952 Wicks 219-284 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,777/31 11/1932 Australia.

ANTHONY BARTIS, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY HEATING LIQUIDS COMPRISING A HOLLOW CASING HAVING INLET AND OUTLET PORTS, A NON-CONDUCTIVE LINER HELD ASSEMBLED WITHIN SAID CASING, SAID LINER COMPLETELY COVERING THE CASING INTERIORLY AND DEFINING A FLUID FLOW PASSAGEWAY BETWEEN THE INLET AND OUTLET PORTS INCLUDING CHAMBERS RESPECTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID INLET AND OUTLET PORTS AND AN ELECTRODE PASSAGE BETWEEN THE CHAMBERS, SPACED ELECTRODES POSITIONED IN SAID ELECTRODE PASSAGE BETWEEN SAID CHAMBERS, AND SPACED PARTITION MEANS CONNECTED TO THE LINER BETWEEN EACH OF THE CHAMBERS AND THE ELECTRODE PASSAGE HAVING CIRCUITOUS PASSAGES FORMED THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBERS AND THE ELECTRODE PASSAGE. 